 Sri
Lanka >> Leading Personalities |
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Suvimalee
Karunaratna was born in 1939. She took to creative
writing in 1964 and a number of her short stories
appeared in English language dailies in Sri Lanka.
She also was a free lance journalist. In 1972 she
joined the English service of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting
Corporation where she produced feature programs. She
resigned from this post in 1976. Her short stories
have been broadcast by the World Service of the BBC
and has contributed regularly to local literary journals.
Her
first collection of short stories, including the prize-winning
"The golden oriole", appeared under the
title Bili Pooja (=Human Sacrifice) (1973). Her work
has been included in anthologies like Stories from
Sri Lanka (1979) - where she for some reason is referred
to as Gunaratna - and Modern Sri Lankan Stories (1986).
She also wrote a television film script, The Journey
which was televised in 1982 by Rupavahini, the National
Television Network of Sri Lanka.
Two
booklets written by her were published by the Buddhist
Publication Society of Sri Lanka. In 1993 her first
novel, Lake - Marsh, was published. "Lake Marsh"
runs its course in the picturesque hill town of Kandy
with its famous lake, part of which becomes marshy from
time to time. The main theme of the novel has to do
with lethargy, corruption and ethnic strife which bedevil
Sri Lankan society today, laying wide open the doors
to exploitation and which threatens to clog up the arteries
of national life. What takes place in the novel is analogous
to the marsh which threatens to choke up the whole lake.
Tissa
Abeysekera, Writer/Director |
Multi-talented as an award winning writer, media critic,
film scriptwriter and a director of both documentaries
and feature films, he is best known for his screenplay
of Lester James Peries¹ Nidhanaya (The Treasure
/ 1970) and his own film Viragaya (1987), which is
one of the four highest grossing films of all time
in Sri Lanka. Absolutely competent in both Sinhalese
and English, he won the Gratien Prize for Sri Lankan
writing in English in 1998 and is currently the Chairman
of the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.
Pundit W.D.Amaradeva Music maestro, Pundit W.D.Amaradeva
has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for excellence
in Journalism, Literature and Creative Communications
Arts.The Magsaysay Foundation in the Philippines announced
that the Music maestro was wedded to the poetry of
his native Sinhalese culture; to Buddhist chants,
North Indian ragas and Christian hymns.
He
learned arts and music at the Bhathkhande University,
India through public funds and qualified as the best
musician at the final examination. He is the fourth
Sri Lankan to receive this award. Earlier, Manjusri,
Sarvodaya Leader Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne and Rev. Fr.
Marcelline Jayakody were also receipients of this
award.
Gamini
Fonseka, Film Actor, Director &
Composer |
Gamini
Fonseka, the veteran film actor and director,
engraved his name indelibly, in film art with
his maiden performance in Daiva Yogaya (1959).
Since then the well-known personality has fluorished
in his field. The history of Sinhala cinema
is somewhat synonymous with the life and works
of Gamini Fonseka. |
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With his unique contribution, in his multiple role of
actor, director and composer, the Sinhala cinema reached
the zenith of popularity in the sixties, seventies and
the eighties during which he was dominant as the most
popular actor, the best actor and later the best director.
The
much admired popular shining star of the Sinhala
cinema at its highpoint in the 1970¹s and
1980¹s, she displayed her talents as an
actress in both serious and popular films. She
went on to direct feature films and latterly
television dramas. Among her many roles, specially
those played opposite the famous late actor
and political personality Vijaya Kumaratunge,
she is best remembered as the loving wife in
Lester James Peries classic work Nidhanaya (The
Treasure / 1970).
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Swarna
Mallawarachchi, Actress |
Ever
since her stunning debut while still a school
girl in Siri Gunasinghe Sath Samudura (1966),
and ever consistent in her refusal to act in
commercial films, she has become one of Sri
Lanka¹s leading actresses in the serious,
artistic filmmaking field. Her truly unique
class as an actress is evident in films such
as Vasantha Obeysekera¹s Dadayama (The
Hunt / 1989) and Kadapathaka Chayava (Reflections
in the Mirror / 1989), Dharmasiri Bandaranayake
Suddhilage Kathawa (The Story of Suddhi / 1984)
and Bava Duka / Bava Karma (1997). |
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Sumithra
Peries Sagara Jalaya (Letter Written in the Sand / 1988)
and Prasanna Vithanage Anantha Rathriya (Dark Night
of the Soul / 1995).
Sumitrha
Peries, Film Director |
As
Sri Lanka¹s only established female movie
director, she is noted for her cinematic portrayal
of the plight of women in a patriarchal society
composed within an elegant and visually alluring
filmmaking style. She is married to Lester James
Peries and began her career as the editor of
some of his classic films. She was Sri Lanka¹s
Ambassador to France in the mid 1990¹s. |
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Among her well known films are Gahanu Lamayi (Girls
/ 1978), Ganga Addara (By the Riverside / 1980), Sagara
Jalaya (Letter Written on the Sand / 1988), Loku Duwa
(Eldest Daughter / 1996) and Duvata Mawaka Misa (A
Mother Alone / 1997).
Bawa's
architectural works are often characterized
by the traditions, arts, and craft of Sri Lanka.
In addition to the parliamentary complex at
Sri Jayawardanapura, Kotte, Bawa's works in
Sri Lanka includes the Ruhuna University, the
Kandalama Hotel, and Lighthouse Hotel. |
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Senaka
Senanayake, Painter |
He
is Sri Lanka's premier International artist
with over 103 one-man exhibitions in London,
Paris, New York, Tokyo, Moscow, Berlin, Singapore,
Bangkok, Sydney, etc. Recognised as a child
prodigy, Senaka has enjoyed a reputation as
one of Sri Lanka's leading artists since his
early childhood. |
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A Paris art critic remarked many years ago: "Senaka
is not a supported prodigy but an authentic painter
because he cannot be linked to a particular aspect
of Sri Lanka - he seems to get inspiration not only
from the ancient forms of traditional Buddhist art
but also from the luxuriant natural beauty that surrounds
him."
Kirthie Abeyesekera , an award-winning journalist and
author, died in Ontario Canada, after a brief illness
on Tuesday night. As a police reporter of the "Ceylon
Observer", he covered some of the major crimes
in the sixties and seventies. He is best remembered
for his penetrating exposes of the underworld both at
home and abroad.
Prasanna
Vithanage, Writer / Director |
As
the most outstanding new director to emerge
in the 1990¹s, his films have won many
local and international accolades. Anantha Rathriya
(Dark Night of the Soul / 1995) received a Special
Jury Award at the 1st Pusan International Film
Festival. Pawuru Walalu (Walls Within / 1997)
won three major awards at the 1998 Amiens International
Film Festival. Purahanda Kaluwara (Death on
a Full Moon Day / 1997) won the FIPRESCI Award
at the 1999 Fribourg IFF and the Grand Prix
at the 1999 Amiens IFF. |
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She
has achieved popular movie-star status in Sri
Lanka and South Asia as well as international
recognition for her work in serious artistic
films. She won the Best Actress Award (the Silver
Peacock) at the 1987 IFF of India for Maldeniye
Simeon (D.B.Nihalsinghe / 1986). She is a Diploma
holder in acting from the London Academy of
Music and Drama, and has done much to advance
the training of actors and actresses in Sri
Lanka. |
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She appeared opposite Irene Papas in Paul Cox¹s
The Island (1988) and her most recent film acting
role was in Julietge Bhumikawa ( The Role of Juliet
/ Jackson Anthony / 1998). She has also received wide
praise for her brilliant performance in the demanding
lead role as Queen Hecabe in Dharmasiri Bandaranayake¹s
1999 stage version of Euripides' The Trojan Women.
Jayalakshmi
Sekhar (born on 12/8/55) had her initial music
training from her father Sri C.S.Krishnaswamy.
cShe is a Chemistry graduate from Stella Maris
College, Madras, during which time she participated
in various inter - collegiate music competitions.
She also plays on the violin and flute. (Basic
lessons taught by her father). |
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Jayalakshmi lives in Malaysia with her husband, Sri
T.V.Sekhar, an Accountant, who has been instrumental
in introducing her to Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. Sripada
Pinakapani, of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Together,
they have been recording his music in his home in
Kurnool year after year and listening and learning
from the tapes, before she became a resident student
of his recently.
Under the tutelage of Dr. Pinakapani, for the past
4-5 years, Jayalakshmi has been improving her veena
play as Dr. Pinakapani imparts his style of music
that includes a balance of gamakas - i.e., a judicious
mix of Gamaka Sangathis and Ravva Jathi Sangathis,
the abundance of Anuswarams in Sangathis giving what
is generally described as weight to the music and
also veena techniques of Veena Vidushi Smt. Dhanammal,
and extending her repertoire of kritis of the Great
Composers including Annamacharya Kritis which he has
set to tune.
She teaches music in Kuala Lumpur, and accompanies
on the violin for visiting musicians from India and
Sri Lanka. She is the music consultant of Sutra Dance
Theatre in Kuala Lumpur run by Artistic Director,
Ramli Ibrahim, the renowned Bharatanatyam, Odissi
and Ballet Dancer of Malaysia. She also has provided
music support for Melbourne's famous Dancer Dr. Chandrabhanu.
She has performed in various countries including Pittsburg
University in the US for an Ethnomusic festival in
1995, and Australia, Singapore, etc.
Since June 1996, Jayalakshmi has been performing on
the veena in Chennai and during the December Music Festivals.
She has also performed in Hyderabad, Bangalore and Tirupathi.
The various Sabhas in Chennai include Naradha Gana Sabha,
Karthik Fine Arts, Kapali Fine Arts, Hamsadhwani NRI
Festival, Indian Fine Arts, TVG AIMA Series, Suswara.
She has given monthly concerts in the Thyagaraja Vidwat
Sabha, Nadopasana, Dr. S. Balachander Trust, etc.
Mannargudi
Easwaran is a top-ranking mridangam artiste
with over 35 years performance experience. He
is a descendant of the legendary Appayya Dikshitar.
He commenced his training at the young age of
eight from Kunniseri U. Krishnamani Iyer. Easwaran
has been a regular accompanist to most of the
leading vocalists and instrumentalists including
Dr Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Dr M.S. Subbulakshmi,
the late Dr M. L. Vasantakumari, the late Maharajapuram
Santhanam, Prof. T. N. Krishnan and Sri Lalgudi
Jayaraman. |
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Shri Eswaran’s playing is marked by clear dexterity,
melodic percussion and spontaneous brilliance. His
tani avartanams are thrilling, spontaneous and intellectual.
In 1978, Easwaran served as a visiting professor for
mrudangam at the University of California in San Francisco.
Shri Eswaran is a staff at All India Radio and was the
first staff artiste to be graded at the Top rank by
the AIR. His skilful accompaniment has won him many
prizes and titles from prestigious institutions including
the title of Asthana Vidwan by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
and Best Mridangist from Kalarasana in 1993. In December
1995, Sri Thyaga Bramha Gana Sabha honoured him for
35 years of service to music.
The
popular Movie Star who is equally comfortable
in serious film roles, he has shown his huge
acting talent in films such as Ganga Addara
(Sumithra Peries / 1980) and Sisila Gini Gani
(Prasanna Vithanage / 1992). He is best remembered
for his brilliant lead performance in Tissa
Abeysekera’s classic film Viragaya (1988). |
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An
actress with a rare talent, well known in the
1970’s and 1980’s, she withdrew
completely from film acting for ten years before
returning to produce and play the lead-role
in Prasanna Vithanage’s Pawuru Walalu
(Walls Within / 1997) for which she won the
Best Actress Award at the 1998 Singapore International
Film Festival. Her most recent role is in Somaratne
Dissanayke’s award winning film Saroja
(2000). |
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Sri
Lanka’s veteran leading actor has proved
his huge talent over the years in both commercial
and artistic films. He received the Best Actor
Award at the 1999 Singapore IFF for his role
as the blind father Wannihami in Prasanna Vithanage’s
Purahanda Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day
/ 1997). |
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The
doyen of Sri Lankan Cinema, and internationally
recognized as one of the world’s great
film directors. His film classics include Gamperaliya
(The Changing Village / 1963), which won the
Grand Prix (Golden Peacock) at the 3rd International
Film Festival of India 1965, Nidhanaya (The
Treasure / 1970), Kaliyugaya (The Age of Kali
/ 1983) and Yuganthaya (The End of an Era /
1985). |
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He is a member of the Legion of Honour (Republic of
France) and received the Lifetime Achievement Award
at the International Film Festival of India in January
2000.
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Credited
with introducing a critical, experimental, alternative
cinema to Sri Lanka, based on a politically
conscious social realism. His classic feature
films include Ahas Gauvwa (1974), Eya Dan Loku
Lamayek (Coming of Age / 1977), Bambaru Avith
(The Wasps Are Here / 1978), Ponmani (Younger
Sister / 1978), Para Dige (Along the Road /
1980) and Soldadu Unnahe (Mr. Soldier / 1981). |
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A
film artist deeply concerned with examining
the intersection of social and personal historical
forces in everyday lives. Also noted for his
interest in destabilizing the ideologies at
play in cinematic representation. Major films
include Ves Gaththo (Masquerade / 1970), Palangetiyo
(Grasshoppers / 1979), Dadayama (The Hunt /
1984), Kadapathaka Chayava (Reflections in a
Mirror / 1989), Maruthaya (The Wind / 1995),
Dorakada Marawa (Death at the Doorstep / 1998)
and Theertha Yatra (Journey / 1999). |
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Multi-talented
as an award winning writer, media critic, film
scriptwriter and a director of both documentaries
and feature films, he is best known for his
screenplay of Lester James Peries’ Nidhanaya
(The Treasure / 1970) and his own film Viragaya
(1987), which is one of the four highest grossing
films of all time in Sri Lanka. |
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Absolutely competent in both Sinhalese and English,
he won the Gratien Prize for Sri Lankan writing in English
in 1998 and is currently the Chairman of the National
Film Corporation of Sri Lanka.
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